remphish1 Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 friends on forest rd in what i guess would be fanwood (probably just over westfield ave from you) just did their kitchen and a bathroom, i think. i haven't talked to them in awhile but i'll ask about their contractor. Nice..I am only 3 blocks from Fanwood. If I can escape anywhere under $10,000 I will be thrilled... What part of Jersey are you from? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plasticeyeball Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Nice..I am only 3 blocks from Fanwood. If I can escape anywhere under $10,000 I will be thrilled... What part of Jersey are you from? navesink. near atlantic highlands/sandy hook. same price structure as you for most everything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ZenLunatic Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Consider your house an expense and not as an investment. Your house may very lose value in the coming years. I know market is low now but we havent hit bottom. And when we do, dont expect the housing market to rebound to prices we've seen before. Housing prices most likely will find a place and stay steady and increase or decrease with inflation or deflation. Housing equity rising is no longer or will it ever be what it used to. Pay for a home you like to live in and live in it, dont expect it to make you money. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BreezyGrass Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 Although I don't expect it to make me money it does allow me to build up some equity. It is better than renting in that I'm paying the bills toward something that ultimately I will own or something I can roll into if I need to expand. That was really what I meant. Anyways - as a bit of an update: we looked again at the house that we both like and have been pre-approved and plan on making a bit early this week. So that's exciting. We're going to come in low and hope to bargin and get it at a lower price that the asking price. Considering that I would have to remodel the upstairs and finish a basement. (Although, the basement isn't that bad - just a little low) So thats all the news there is. When I can I'll post some pictures - although the wife lost her purse on Saturday after a local Irish Parade at a local bar. It had my new digi camera in it loaded with pics from Hawaii. I'm bummed for sure - but lucky that I uploaded all the pictures when we got home. She says I've been very good about it - because if it had been me that had "lost" something like that I would be a dead man! Isn't that the way things always go? A busy week that is off the ground already - Monday's stink!!! =P Have a good day all!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Edie Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Consider your house an expense and not as an investment. Your house may very lose value in the coming years. I know market is low now but we havent hit bottom. And when we do, dont expect the housing market to rebound to prices we've seen before. Housing prices most likely will find a place and stay steady and increase or decrease with inflation or deflation. Housing equity rising is no longer or will it ever be what it used to. Pay for a home you like to live in and live in it, dont expect it to make you money. I call bullshit. Real estate is a finite commodity, and so prices for it will always tend to increase over time. The amount of the increase will vary over what time frame you use - along with other variables such as location, condition/improvement and as we have seen so starkly, what else is going on in the world. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BreezyGrass Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 Well we put in a bid and got countered with the owner only coming down $3,000. We'll see what happens. We upped our offer and should see some more bargaining tomorrow. A nail biting experience because dealing with Real Estate Agents I don't know if we're getting the whole truth. It is a learning experience thoug for sure. I'm really looking forward to Tweedy at Beacon NY on the 28th!!! First time seeing him/any Wilco personelle. Really needed stuff! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Well we put in a bid and got countered with the owner only coming down $3,000. We'll see what happens. We upped our offer and should see some more bargaining tomorrow. A nail biting experience because dealing with Real Estate Agents I don't know if we're getting the whole truth. It is a learning experience thoug for sure. I'm really looking forward to Tweedy at Beacon NY on the 28th!!! First time seeing him/any Wilco personelle. Really needed stuff! I had the same thing happen. I made a slightly higher counter said it was valid for two weeks and they came down to meet me. Play hard ball there are alot of house out there. Unless you are 100% certian this is the house for you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I had the same thing happen. I made a slightly higher counter said it was valid for two weeks and they came down to meet me. Play hard ball there are alot of house out there. Unless you are 100% certian this is the house for you. yeah, the key is to not fall in love with this house before it's yours. you have to be willing to walk away from the deal, especially in this market. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BreezyGrass Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 Well we are in contract after some back and forth. Fortunately it is the house for us. We hope that all goes smoothly! Its not going to be a ball and chain. We didn't buy over our heads and it has room for expansion in the future. All good things! So now into the abyss that is the process of buying a house and then making it a home... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Good luck! Again as stressed earlier make sure you get a good home inspector. Ours missed a major water issue in our basement and it is going to cost us now.We ended up getting a settlement from the previous sellers but it won't cover everything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BreezyGrass Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 Well the inspection didn't go well. Our inspector is a really good friend and super qualified. He said that for what we offered and the problems that exist we're getting a bad deal. Now, we hope that the owners realize that they need to come down and we would buy the house. I don't know that they will though. Needless to say, the water main/pipe into the house is lead and we told the real estate agent to tell the people living there b/c there is a toddler living there. So its bad news - and its upsetting but if its meant to be its meant to be. Just means we either negotiate or continue our search. I just thought it was over. =( Thank for all the help and stories and encouragement!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
austrya Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 If you still want the house, counter and ask them to fix the problem. In this market, they may be willing to do it so they can sell. I had a house for sale a few years ago and I paid to have some sort of filter installed on the well because the buyers asked me to. I just wanted to get rid of the house and figured a couple grand was a small price to pay to have it out from under me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BreezyGrass Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 If it were only that simple. If they'd come down I'd fix everything the way I want it. Its not that the house is a shambles but it needs 3 major things to be improved the lead water main, water leakage by the front steps, & the floor needs to be up to code and it is not. I would buy it and fix it but not at the price we offered. The owner won't come down unfortunately. Back to the search! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 If it were only that simple. If they'd come down I'd fix everything the way I want it. Its not that the house is a shambles but it needs 3 major things to be improved the lead water main, water leakage by the front steps, & the floor needs to be up to code and it is not. I would buy it and fix it but not at the price we offered. The owner won't come down unfortunately. Back to the search! good for you to stick to your guns. there's no reason to overpay in this market - and with major repairs needed, it sounds like you would be overpaying. if you haven't found a new home in 2 weeks, have your agent contact theirs again... they'll likely be more receptive to the idea of covering the costs the 2nd time around. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BreezyGrass Posted March 21, 2009 Author Share Posted March 21, 2009 good for you to stick to your guns. there's no reason to overpay in this market - and with major repairs needed, it sounds like you would be overpaying. if you haven't found a new home in 2 weeks, have your agent contact theirs again... they'll likely be more receptive to the idea of covering the costs the 2nd time around. Thank you for the advice. We stuck to our guns and they came down $20k! So we are in contract! It worked out in the end and we are very excited! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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